The first thing that totally impresses you when entering Second Baptist Church of Everett on a Sunday at 11:45am is the warm, enthusiastic, and authentic welcome. Give them a visit. You will be totally loved and embraced. The worship is genuinely and passionately filled with joy. Come on!
Part of the Southern Baptist Association, Second Baptist was started by a handful of dedicated Christians in 1901 when according to their website “the Black residents of Everett, who were followers of the Baptist faith expressed the need to organize and construct a church of their own. Their first structure was built on Rainer Street. In 1922 land was purchased, and a “new and more spacious commodious structure was erected on the corner of California and Virginia Avenue” where the church remained at 2801 Virginia Avenue.
Pastor Hiller Payne, a calm and cordial minister, has led the church as senior pastor since June of 2021.
They write, “At Second Baptist church, we equip the Saints thought what we call TRUST:
Teaching the Word of God
Reclaiming the Lost
Undergirding Families
Supporting Singles and Seniors
Training our Youth
The church’s focus on equipping the saints for the work of the ministry is reflected in their robust list of over twenty ministry opportunities, including but not limited to youth ministry, benevolence, helping hands, men, and women’s ministries.
No doubt being a fledgling Black church in a predominantly white community in the early 20th Century had to be challenging at times to say the very least. Their closing statement in their church history reflects church history and the realities of Christian life: “This history is by no means complete because time will not allow us to tell you of the hardships, dissension, and disappointments experienced over the past 120 years. As a church, we have experienced prosperity, joys and sorrows and we thank God for the struggle.”
God bless Second Baptist of Everett.
